Mark9

Gonna go on record here and say Alton have done wonders with this adveritsing campaign.

Gonna go on record here and say Alton have done wonders with this adveritsing campaign.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-14137636Aww lucky Scenic Railway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zb64y6Nvs0&feature=player_embedded

Bitchy people. Come on, put down that facade and say how you really feel instead of pretending you're this really nice person when you're not.

I just got back from Europa Park last night. This is going to be a trip report as it will probably end up turning into a rant at my dad's dismissal of the entire park but I will be reviewing the rides, Hotel Colosseo and the park as a whole.I also want to test how well my photos come up so prepare for high res spam.Hotel ColosseoCan't think of a single fault here. Beautifully themed (the fountain shows in the centre are brilliant), 5 min walk to a hotel guest only entrance to the park, great food, friendly staff who nearly all speak German, French and English and even though we were told it was fully booked out, it never felt overcrowded.All the on-site hotels give you access to ERT before the park opens (and some rides after closing on certain days), a separate entrance which is the opposite side of the park (very close to where Blue Fire is and Mythos will be next year!) to the main entrance and offer evening tickets for the park which is good if you want to go in on the day you arrive.
Blue FireA launched coaster that has a good length, an original theme, lap bars, headchoppers, an astronomical throughput with very efficient batching and a single rider queue that actually works without holding up the batching and is both intense and smooth? So, so, so, so much better than Rita, Stealth, Rock 'N' Rollercoaster or any other launcher I have been on. The queue is very cool, winding through a misty area with jumping fountains, a museum with 360 degree screens and then finally back up outside through rock work in between the back run and the launch track.Due to it's crazy throughput, there is always 1 train launching before the one before has hit the final break run so you always have something to watch. There is also a path for non-riders which also goes through the museum and then splits off going through the centre of the ride which is very cool.
Silver StarI had heard a lot of people saying that this ride was pretty 'meh'. They must have not got a back row ride then. At the back you will barely touch your seat. The amount of airtime you can get is ridiculous. There was a front row queue but it was always coming out of its extension so I never tried it. Technically, this is a car park coaster but it works. It's sponsored by Mercedes and its queueline winds around TV screens and exhibits showcasing cars and there are counting down lights in the station (think Rita and Stealth) and a photo finish. Also, unless you queue for the front row queue, you never go outside the building before boading so don't see the ride at all.
Euro MirOne of the most random but also fun coasters I have been on. It consists of techno music, UV paint, strobes, astronauts, spinning, a spiralling lift hill and some really forceful helixes outside.
Euro SatThe closest comparison to this is Space Mountain inside the Epcot ball. I don't understand German well enough to understand why there was an astronaut who looked like the Terminator. Very forceful and jerky in parts especially at the back but featured a great techno track with lasers.Matterhorn Blitz
Best themed wild mouse I have been on. The queue winds its way around the track and log cabins filled with animatronics. The lift hill is also replaced with an elevator which has a few surprises.PoseidonStunningly themed queue. Probably the best one in the entire park. It's therefore slightly strangely designed ride in contrast. The coaster section is before the more traditional drop. I would have thought it be more dramatic to have a normal drop and then the rollercoaster section inside or at least hidden from view so that guests do not know what is coming. Oh well, still a very fun ride, especially the helix going under the queue and then into the water.
All the photos are on FacebookI just tried to put the photos in spoilers to make it a bit more readable, however the photos no longer automatically resize. Will fix soon!

Someones message on Twitter to Piers Morgan@piersmorgan I'd like to regulate your face. With a train. #bbcqt

"If I wanted trees I'd go to a garden centre"

You enter their property, then you abide by their rules.

But, but! It's BANTER LAWL!

Hi again guys.
Well, I told you the team were working on things and very soon we're going to be able to implement some of them. We have listened to everyone's views and have appreciated all of your feedback. Please remember, if you would like to provide us with feedback about a specific issue, please use the relevant topics provided. This is to reduce spammage!Forum Feedback TPM Feedback Team Member and Forum Member Expectations
Last night, The Team spent a large amount of time reviewing our Forum Rules. We're in the process of simplifying our existing ones and making sure that we're all happy with them. This isn't a major change but we felt that it would improve clarity with Forum Members and Team Members as to where they stand.We also listened to your views about our Chat Room. Let me tell you what we're doing with that. We're going to re-instate it within the next few days. Possibly over the weekend, depending on progress made for our rules and moderating strategy. The Team have been compiling a simple, clear list of rules for all Forum and Team Members to abide by, these will appear on the forums in due course as well as appearing before you enter the Chat Room itself. Please take your time to read these; by entering the Chat Room you are agreeing to them and we expect that level of respect from you guys.As we respect your opinions and contributions to the community, we have agreed to keep the Chat Room open permanently. We shall be making sure that there are Team Members who are present during the most popular times, however, we won't be present in there 24/7 so if you are using the Chat Room, please respect the specified rules. Chat Logs will be reviewed and we shall be extremely disappointed if we see any of you disregarding these rules.I'd also like to point out, we shall be using a fair policy, by which I mean, during late at night, there will be a much more relaxed attitude towards the Chat Room rules. Similarly, if you are in chat with just a couple of people who you know very well, these rules shall be relaxed. However, during our most popular times where we have relatively large numbers of members, some as young as 13, we would like you to be considerate and respect our policy, this is to protect our community and for a better atmosphere.If you have a dispute with another Forum Member in the chat without a Team Member present, please use the PM service and we shall sort things out for you as soon as we're able to.We're all very lucky to have a Team that are extremely committed and passionate about this community. We're also very lucky to have members who care. As Daniel9 said, you're moaning because you care (or I'd at least hope you do) and even though sometimes Team Members take it personally, we do realise your passion and appreciate your commitment, so in response to this, we would appreciate your time and patience for us to show you just how much we do care about you guys.We're entering a very exciting time, both for the parks and for Mania Hub, we would love for you to come along for the ride with us. Let's get back to discussing what we're really here for- our love for theme parks, entertainment and a flaming good laugh with friends.Take care as always,Sheepie and the Mania Hub Team.

The 80s, providing so many guilty pleasures...

More fool me smiffy? Mate it was a fantastic queue. Great atmosphere, excellent themeing, everyone singing- a long to the music, spectacular effects that literally made people go "whoah" in the queue.The best queueing experience of my life that only Expedition Everest came near.

Europa is more than just a theme park...

Back before it got raped by fastrack, stealth and storm surge, Tidal Wave had a much longer queue then present. It's also perfectly understandably for Tidal Wave to have a three hour queue in 2002.

You clearly didn't find your laughing place

Did someone say EURO-RAVE?

It's okay, the project isn't cancelled just because the wing-rider track wasn't heading to Chertsey..

There is so much crap in this topic now it's unreal. Where are people coming from when they post this stuff. Firstly:-
All the ground work has been done in the last 30 years and has NOTHING to do with Merlin. From John Broome adding a double looping rollercoaster in 1980 to Tussauds throwing in Europes first inverted rollercoaster. Merlin have added pirates, a random cuckoo area and a family rollercoaster with bells and whistles. Merlin, if anything, are sucking off Alton's reputation, and sucking it dry.I mean honestly. Are you for real? Air, to this day remains one of the most popular rollercoasters the UK has ever seen. 10 seasons on it will have the busiest queues of any ride on park despite its large throughput. Yeah, so what enthusiasts don't rave about it? The public love it. And what, Thorpe throw coaster after coaster after coaster at their park and somehow they are better. Quantity isn't everything and Inferno, Stealth and Colossus can't hold a candle to Nemesis, Oblivion and Air in terms of ride quality. Sheepie, once again hits the nail right on the head. Alton Towers, if anything, have been incredibly daring by making their new rollecoaster a family friendly attraction. It's only the advertising that has let the ride down. Family parks will have always have the edge on thrill parks because, to put it simply, rides are there to be enjoyed not just to always scare you silly.

See, this annoys me. Realistically a brand new rollercoaster is going to last another 20 years and will make back its return within the first few seasons. Look at rides like Oblivion, 13 years on and it's still the ride with the most merchandise in Alton's shops. Same with Air, same with Stealth.I know there's a fine balance between getting a good ride out there and having the budget to do it, but when it all said and done, these aren't little things that will last a month, they are million pound experiences which will be seeing the park through at least two decades. Sometimes parks attitudes astound me.

See, this annoys me. Realistically a brand new rollercoaster is going to last another 20 years and will make back its return within the first few seasons. Look at rides like Oblivion, 13 years on and it's still the ride with the most merchandise in Alton's shops. Same with Air, same with Stealth.I know there's a fine balance between getting a good ride out there and having the budget to do it, but when it all said and done, these aren't little things that will last a month, they are million pound experiences which will be seeing the park through at least two decades. Sometimes parks attitudes astound me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK9!